Salish Sea

Southern Resident Killer Whales

Summary

Declining

Despite a number of births in the second half of 2015 and early 2016, there has been a net loss of Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKWs) since 2011. This trend along with the continued decline of Chinook salmon, and the noted appearance of emaciation among members of the local pods, are reasons we are downgrading the previous status of SRKWs from a neutral trend to a declining trend.

Critical Habitat

Map of critical habitat for Southern Resident Killer Whales.

Sustainable Perspective

Killer whales and Salish people have lived together in this place for at least 5000 years.

Although remains of many marine mammals can be found at historical Salish village sites, killer whales are rarely found at these sites. This has been attributed to their special significance in aboriginal culture.

In British Columbia, non-First Nation fishermen once considered killer whales to be nuisances and competition for salmon. About 1 in 4 killer whales that were captured in the 1960s and 1970s showed evidence of having been previously shot and wounded.

By the late 1960s, attitudes toward killer whales shifted as people around the world observed captive killer whales as intelligent mammals. By the 1970s, the North American environmental movement helped foster compassion for killer whales.

In 1980, increased public interest supported the first commercial whale watching excursions in Johnstone Strait.

Updated July 2017

Killer whales, or orcas, are top predators and cultural icons of the Salish Sea. During the spring, summer and fall months, killer whales can be seen regularly.

Resident killer whales have been listed as endangered species in both the U.S. and Canada, and their population is closely tied to the overall health of the ecosystem.

Killer whale societies are organized into a series of social units according to maternal genealogy. How much each unit is related to another gets progressively weaker from the smallest social unit (matriline) through the largest (community).

Matriline

Matriline is the smallest orca social unit. Matrilines consist of a group of closely related whales linked by maternal descent. A typical matriline consists of a matriarch (an older female) and her male and female descendents, including granddaughters. In 2010, Southern Resident Killer Whales were organized along 19 matrilines.

Pod

A pod is a group of related matrilines that share a common maternal ancestor. As pods grow in size over time, they may split into new pods. The 19 matrilines of Southern Resident Killer Whales are found in three pods: J-Pod, K-Pod and L-Pod.

Clan

Clans are defined by the acoustic behavior of pods. Pods within clans have similar vocal dialects, and pods with very similar dialects are more closely related than those with more different features in their dialects. All Southern Resident Killer Whales belong to J-Clan.

Community

Community is the top level of orca social structure. The community is made up of pods that regularly associate with one another. It is defined by association patterns rather than maternal genealogy or acoustic similarities. Pods from one community have rarely or never been seen to travel with those from another community even though their ranges may partly overlap. There are two resident communities found in the Salish Sea: the northern and southern communities.

What's happening?

From 1973 to 2016, the resident killer whale population showed periods of both growth and decline. When the first population census was conducted in 1973, 66 whales were sighted.

Their population increased by 48% to a high of 98 in 1995, then dropped 16% to 82 individuals between 1995 and 2003, prompting governments to list them as endangered species.

As of December 2016, there were 78 Southern Resident Killer Whales in the Salish Sea.

The three pods within the Southern Resident Killer Whale population have shown different patterns of change. Between 1973 and 2016, J-pod and K–pod grew by 10 and 4 individuals, respectively, while L-pod decreased by 2 individuals.

Since their peak in 1995, L-pod has lost 23 individuals, driving down the overall population of SRKWs. L-pod has the highest proportion of older females that are no longer reproducing.

Click for larger image.

Why is it important?

Killer whales are culturally, spiritually, and economically important to the Salish Sea. They're featured prominently in the stories and art of the Coast Salish people, and their presence is important for local tourism.

In 1998, the total revenue from whale watching in British Columbia was $69 million. In 2001, Washington residents spent $979 million on wildlife watching, resulting in a total economic output of $1.78 billion and generating or maintaining 22,000 jobs.

The declining killer whale population may also be an indicator of reduced salmon populations, since they rely on salmon as a primary food source.

Why is it happening?

Recent declines in killer whale population are linked to threats such as toxic pollution, and noise and disturbance from boat traffic.

However, killer whales also fundamentally rely on healthy populations of salmon – particularly Chinook – which are declining across the Salish Sea.

These factors are all interconnected in a way that suggests an even greater impact on the killer whale population than can be predicted by studying any one factor by itself.

Changing age demographics and gender ratios within the small whale population can compound these factors and have pronounced influence over social dynamics such as mating, group foraging, and social care of calves.

The 30% decline in whales between 1967 and 1971 was mostly due to live captures for aquariums all over the world. Washington and British Columbia served as the primary source of captive killer whales because inland waters offered fewer escape routes, shallower waters made netting easier, and a large network of shore observers provided updates on movements of the whales.

Current Threats to Killer Whale Recovery

Prey Availability

Survival and birth rates in Southern Resident Killer Whales are correlated with coast-wide abundance of salmon. The abundance of their preferred prey, Chinook salmon, has declined from historical levels in the Salish Sea. Fraser River Chinook salmon make up over 80% killer whales’ summer diet when they are in the Salish Sea, and Fraser River stream-type populations are currently of conservation concern as a result of substantial declines over the last decade.

Southern Resident killer whales also consume a smaller proportion of other fish and Chinook salmon from the Columbia, Sacramento, Klamath and other coastal river systems outside of the Salish Sea ecosystem. These other river systems contribute prey during winter months when coastal foraging is particularly important to local pods of orcas.

According to an assessment by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the single greatest loss of food for the Southern Resident Killer Whales in the past 50 years may have been the decline in salmon from the Columbia and Snake River basins.

Click image for larger version.

Pollution and Contaminants

High levels of persistent organic pollutants, particularly bioaccumulating substances such as PCBs which were banned long ago and newer pollutants like those found in flame-retardants (PBDEs), may be preventing the population of Southern resident killer whales from increasing at a rate required for recovery. Southern resident killer whales have been found to carry some of the highest PCB and PBDE concentrations reported in animals. The levels in blubber exceed those known to affect the health of other marine mammals.

Vessels and Noise

Cumulative impacts from interactions with vessels and associated noise may interfere with the ability of Southern Resident Killer Whales to communicate and find food. When vessels are present, the whales hunt less and travel more, swim in more erratic paths and increase surface activity with more breaches and tail slaps. They also increase the loudness of their calls when noise levels in their environment are high. The energy cost of these altered behaviors is being studied.

What are we doing about it?

Many agencies are working to address threats to the Southern Resident Killer Whales by focusing on projects that address food sources, pollution, disturbance from boat traffic, and oil spills.

Below are examples of the type of work being done by agencies and non-governmental organizations to help protect orca populations.

Collaborating to Increase Understanding- The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries is working with Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans to evaluate a report by an independent science panel that evaluated effects of salmon fisheries on Southern Resident orcas. They are also working toward understanding other potential factors such as where the whales are in the winter when they are outside of the Salish Sea, demographics, mating patterns and inbreeding effects.

Collaborating to Inform Management Actions - Port Metro Vancouver is leading the Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program to better understand and manage the impact of shipping activities on at-risk whales throughout the southern coast of British Columbia. Collaborators include Nanaimo Port Authority, Ports of Seattle and Tacoma, Ocean Networks Canada, DFO, Transport Canada, the Vancouver Aquarium and others.

Whale Watching Guidelines - The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans and U.S. National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration have created voluntary whale watching guidelines to reduce vessel disturbances and manage traffic. The Pacific Whale Watch Association, and organizations such as Straitwatch (for Johnstone Strait and North Vancouver Island) and Soundwatch (for Washington State and Haro Strait) provide outreach for these guidelines and monitor vessel activities in the vicinity of whales. In addition to viewing guidelines, NOAA has implemented regulations to ensure vessels don’t approach whales closer than 200 yards. Visit Be Whale WiseExit for information on guidelines and regulations.

Improving land leasing activities - The Washington Department of Natural Resource's Aquatic Reserves Program is working to protect aquatic environments from aquatic land leasing activities, with emphasis on protecting habitat and species such as orcas.

Collaborative Marine Response Plans - NOAA Fisheries has developed an Oil Spill Emergency Response Plan for orcas in partnership with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the SeaDoc Society. In addition, the Canada-United States Joint Marine Pollution Contingency Plan provides a framework for Canada-U.S. cooperation in response to marine pollution incidents threatening coastal waters of both countries, and major incidents in one country where the assistance of the neighboring country is required.

Five things you can do to help

Orcas are sensitive to noise and disturbance from boats. Instead of approaching them in your own vessel, spend a day watching them from a responsibly-managed whale watching vessel, or watch them from shore.

Engage in citizen science by alerting researchers when you spot orcas so scientists can track their travel.

Get involved in efforts to protect and restore salmon habitat in your community. Chinook salmon are especially important to killer whale populations in the Salish Sea.

Choose to eat sustainably-harvested salmon and other seafood to help protect wild fish populations.

Do your part to dispose of unused medicine and chemicals properly. Never dump them into household toilets and sinks or outside where they can get into ditches or storm drains. See if your community has a household hazardous waste collection facility that will take your old or unused chemicals.

Ford, J.F., G.M. Ellis, and K.C. Balcomb. 2000. Killer Whales, Second Edition: The natural history and genealogy of Orcinus orca in British Columbia and Washington. UBC Press, Vancouver and University of Washington Press, Seattle.